Bicycle Travel Basics

Learn the basics of bicycle travel: getting in shape, packing, and more. This section features blog posts from Adventure Cycling staff and guest authors, articles from Adventure Cyclistcontributors, and links to other resources.

When packing up for a tour, I tend to put a big focus on the essentials (tools, tent, sleeping bag, cookware, clothes, etc). Here are three items that may or may not be necessities, so they can be easy to neglect. But all of them are beneficial to have along.

Any time I'm planning out a trip, regardless of location or distance, the very first thing I do is break into an Excel spreadsheet. Keeping things organized in my head has never been one of my stronger suits, so I need to get it all down on a list before something else grabs my attention. Lists also give me a little more confidence going into a tour as reassurance that the things I've planned for have been taken care of.

During our bike tours, people have often quipped, "Great that you're doing this trip before you have kids!" -- as if children would put a definite and immediate end to our love of cycling and traveling by bicycle. When I became pregnant in May 2011, I wondered if they were right. Would a growing belly (let alone the arrival of a new human being) put a quick end to my bike touring days?

Don't put off that long-distance bike tour! You can do it! To get you started, Adventure Cycling teamed up with America ByCycle to produce this fun video on how to prepare for your long-distance cycling adventure. Strap on your helmet and get ready for the ride of a lifetime!

Unless your bike tour begins close to home, transporting your bike can be one of the most difficult tasks in preparing for your journey. Flying with bikes can be outrageously expensive and shipping can cause all sorts of headaches in regards to where you're going to send the bike, and whether or not it will arrive on time. If you're struggling with these issues, you might want to turn your attention to BikeFlights.com.

by Aaron Teasdale. While cyclists have been exploring unruly stretches of earth on bicycles for generations, mountain bikes — with their stout frames, bump-smoothing suspension, and wide, knobby tires — make it easier and more fun. Put simply, mountain bikes have forever changed and expanded the sport of bicycling by opening up a new world of terrain for velo exploration.

by Joe Morris. Europe is the birthplace of the Tour de France, the rear derailer, the Dutch utility bike, and the trans-continental bike route. Nevertheless, it can be intimidating to plan your own bike tour there. How do you choose a route? Where do you stay? How much planning do you really need to do?

This site focuses mostly on Midwestern states. From destinations to explore, to bike clubs and shops you will find many fun options to stay active and healthy while making a smaller environmental footprint.

by Larry Diskin. It can be quite difficult to choose a commercial tour. In this article, I'll categorize the different styles of tours that are most commonly available, and give you some tips on how to select one that you'll enjoy.

by Larry Diskin. We often write about selecting the proper gear. We recommend exotic locations, give you the maps, and lead you on three-month expeditions. But rarely do we share the secrets of social survival, tricks of the trade so to speak. Here are a few concepts to keep in mind that will help you have a positive experience.

by the Tours Department. If you’re planning to travel by bike, there’s no getting around it — you’ll have to bring stuff. The central truth for this stuff: less is more. Countless cyclists end up shipping excess stuff home a week or two into their ride after they realize how little they actually need and precisely how heavy their extra stuff is. The other central truth: the less weight you carry, the more fun it is to ride. In time, you’ll figure out what works best for you. This article can get you started.

by Adventure Cycling Staff. Many people become smitten with the idea of traveling by bicycle but don’t how to get started. In this article, Adventure Cycling staff answer some of the common questions that beginning bicycle travelers often ask.

As touring season ramps up and you’re getting your things together, you may be weighing what you do and do not need to bring, or what you need to make room for as your storage space fills up. Here's how to pare down!